[Carl in Tampa]

My daughter and "our" Beagle were in The Villages for several days during the Thanksgiving season. She decided to take the Beagle to the Mulberry Dog Park so he could run free for a bit.

Apparently the park is divided into two courses, one for smaller dogs and another for larger dogs. I surmise this is for the protection of the smaller dogs; particularly to protect them from larger dogs that might consider the small ones to be game.

In any event, my daughter became acquainted with "Grumpy" at the park. Grumpy was the owner of a smaller dog, and he complained about my daughter running her Beagle in the course for smaller dogs. Grumpy objected that dogs over 40 pounds were to be run in the larger course and demanded to know the weight of our Beagle.

My daughter acknowledged that the Beagle, with a "standard" weight of 35 pounds, was slightly overweight at around 40 pounds, but pointed out this did not change his placid, friendly disposition or make him a hazard to Grumpy's dog, which repeatedly charged at our Beagle, probably wanting to romp and run.

I can only say that Grumpy went a long way towards spoiling the dog's outing, and he should be ashamed. Next time, perhaps I will be with my daughter, and I will assure Grumpy that our Beagle is not a "large dog."

Some people have no common sense.